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So, Andy Murray is back. Some doubted him last year; his decisions were questioned, there was talk of a new generation emerging to wipe away the old guard, but it's the familiar names which remain in this tournament.

Andy Murray is through to the final and either top seed Novak Djokovic or defending champion Stan Wawrinka will join him. To find out who comes out on top of what is likely to be an epic battle, join us on Friday for more game-by-game coverage. Thanks, as always, for your chit-chat. Bye for now.

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"Murray has been asked by ESPN just how satisfying that win was, and he cannot suppress a grin. "Very satisfying. Very satisfying." He reasserts his earlier on-court view that coach Amelie Mauresmo took 'a lot of unfair criticism' last year, and then heads into the warren of tunnels beneath Rod Laver Arena and has a long chat with mum Judy."

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The question is: can Murray become the first man in the Open Era to win the Australian Open title after losing three finals? The sixth seed was runner-up in 2010, 2011 and 2013 but no-one is a bridesmaid on four occasions, surely?

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Andy Murray is through to his eighth Grand Slam final and is closing in on Fred Perry's record of 10 Grand Slam finals. The British number one is also now equal 13th, alongside Ken Rosewall and Guillermo Vilas, on the list of most Grand Slam finals reached in the Open Era. Only three active players have made more Grand Slam finals. There are no prizes for guessing the three. Not even a token doff of the cap.

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"Murray was very aggressive, took charge and, overall, it was a very good performance. Berdych has played well in these two weeks, and once again it shows how difficult it is to play against Murray. He was brilliant. He is very close to being back to his best."

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Player reaction

Murray 6-7 (6-8) 6-0 6-3 7-5 Berdych

EPA

Andy Murray: "There was little bit extra tension - it was a big match. A lot was made about Dani Vallverdu, my former coach, working with Tomas. But we've been friends since we were 15 years old and I felt that the focus was unfair and unnecessary.

"This is sport - and there's more to life than sport. It created a bit of extra tension but everyone calmed down after start of the match"

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Asked whether he'll be watching Friday's semi-final against Novak Djokovic and Stanislas Wawrinka, Murray says: "I will try to watch a little bit but judging their matches in the last couple of years I might be in bed before the end. Both have been playing well and whoever has tickets for that one will be very lucky."

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Aggression the key for Murray

Murray thinks there's a punchbag near his chair as he's repeatedly punching thin air. He's clearly delighted to have won that match.

"I was disappointed to lose the first set, I had a couple of chances at the end, I was disappointed but felt I started to play better as the set went on and I was very aggressive at the beginning of the second set.," says Murray. "I changed tactics a little bit and I was getting more comfortable with the conditions, with Tomas's ball. He hits the ball hard and I got used to that. I tried to play aggressive, after losing a tough one like the first it was important to get the momentum back."

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Game, set and match

Murray 6-7 (6-8) 6-0 6-3 7-5 Berdych

EPA

Berdych has had opportunities in this set, but he's wasted every single one. It'll be a sleepless night for the seventh seed this evening should he go on to lose this match, which he probably will. Two easy points for Murray...a serve into the ribcage nearly knocks Berdych onto the canvas, the Czech's knees are wobbling, Murray with a forehand winner - three match points Murray. And a thigh-slappingly good ace down the middle is his coupe de grace.

Murray breaks

"It has been a very focused performance from Murray. He has applied pressure and Berdych has sprayed a couple of shots. Berdych will be hoping Murray cracks in the next game and drops a second serve short.

"Berdych is going to have to come up with something special and take a bit of a risk."

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Murray breaks

*Murray 6-7 (6-8) 6-0 6-3 6-5 Berdych

AFP

Berdych with an iffy overhead, Murray's eyes widen but he's a fraction long with the improvised lob from way beyond the baseline and the Scot merely gives out an anguished cry as he watches the ball bounce two inches long. Matter not, Murray goes 15-30 up - and a double fault from Berdych gifts Murray with two break points. The sharks are circling around Berdych's feet. Der-dum-der-dum. Murray has won five of nine break points so far so the odds are against the Czech.... Der-dum-der-dum... And Murray goes in for the kill! Well, Berdych biffs a backhand long.

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The spectators purr as Murray lobs Berdych, turning the Czech on his heels, the ball is still in play but not for long as the Scot comes out on top. Murray adds a 14th ace of a match to the stats but from 40-0 up he's having to defend a slender advantage at 40-30. Kim Sears can be seen nervously tapping her knee, whispering "come on" from the sidelines. Berdych with an iffy return and another tie-break could be in store.

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All Murray has to do is break Berdych in this game, hold his next serve and he's through to the final. Peasy. Not so easily done in practice, although Murray's giving it a shot - unleashing a phenomenal return to level at 30-30. Berdych under pressure but remains as cool as a cucumber which has been wrapped in an ice pack and kept in the freezer. He forces Murray down a blind alley and beats him with a stonking forehand. The Czech comes through the test with credit, hitting without fear to dismiss Murray's threat.

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"That was a big opportunity for Berdych - and he didn't take it. It is not often that you get three second serves in a row, at that pace, and not do much with it. You could see Murray say to himself in that final point: 'I'm not having another second serve'. And he slowed it right down."

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"Argh" screams Berdych as he clobbers a tame Murray second serve into the net. That should have been a free lunch for the Czech and he knows it. A second bite for Berdych, though, as another second serve comes his way and he steps in to put away a forehand return. 30-30. Second serve after second serve from Murray, three on the trot, but Berdych is letting his opponent get away with such sloppiness. Finally, a first serve from Murray and Berdych's return goes long.

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Bravo! Murray swinging loose on the forehand and his wizardry beats Berdych. The Scot flares his nostrils, clenches his fist and nods his head in admiration of his own brilliance. But one shot doesn't make a game and at 40-30 Berdych should have this one wrapped up. What would be winners against many an opponent are made to look like average groundstrokes against Murray, such is the Scot's defensive skills, but, eventually - after two big forehands into the corner, Berdych sees off the threat with an overhead.

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"Yay" sings a lone voice in the crowd as Berdych, lunging on the baseline, ends a rally by netting a forehand. A 13th ace from Murray and the Scot is 30-0 up. Berdych nibbles at Murray's lead, though, firing a series of forehand into Murray's backhand corner before seeing his opponent off with an overhead. A nibble turns into a big bite at 30-30... decibels rise inside the arena... Berdych with a fine return, forcing Murray to play, the Scot screwing his forehand into the barrier - Berdych with a break point. Masterful recovery from the Scot, an indecisive Berdych caught in no-man's land and Murray passes him. Danger averted.

Has someone switched off the lights? Possibly. Murray comes a cropper on his backhand. Second break point Berdych. Second break point saved - Berdych botching his return. Deuce. Advantage. A momentum-changing crosscourt backhand from Murray, defence has been turned into attack, and Berdych goes long. And that's the sound of the Czech's chances whistling in the wind...

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A collective intake of breath from the spectators as they watch a Murray down-the-line forehand curl in... a surprised Berdych nets and seeds of doubt are being sown at 30-30. Berdych wriggles free, though, Murray letting an opportunity slip on the Berdych second serve and the Czech wraps up the game with an angry overhead. Talking of angry, a frustrated Murray growls on the baseline, wondering about the ifs and buts which passed him by in that game.

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Two female spectators wave to the camera once they've noticed they're on the big screen. They don't seem particularly embarrassed that pictures of them wearing elaborate headwear - swimming caps which have been made to look like tennis balls - are being broadcast around the world. No drama to write about in this game. An ace takes Murray to 40-15. Berdych looks towards the line judge. Oof, that was an evil stare. Murray lasers a backhand down the line, Berdych can do little but net and we're all-square once more.

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Much like the third set, both players have found their serving groove early in the set. Three points in quick succession for Berdych for 40-0 and it ends up as a hold to 15, with Murray unable to keep his return on target. The calm before the storm. It's only a matter of time until the fireworks start popping and the set explodes into action.

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As David Attenborough would say, what we have here is a creature of rare athletic ability. A Scot who possesses the speed of a panther around the baseline; the strength of a wild beast to launch powerful serves beyond his opponent; and the mind to keep his rival guessing with every toss. An impressive service game from Murray as he holds with little fuss.

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"Interesting to see Murray reading notes at the changeover, maybe making a very visual point about tactics after suggesting in the pre-match media conferences that the Berdych camp should be able to come up with the 'perfect game plan' to beat him. Or maybe it's Wolf Hall."

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Murray's ability to artfully manipulate his opponent thanks to his incredible ability to fetch and retrieve all day long means Berdych is now drinking in the last chance saloon. He's just got to win this set. The Czech opens with a trouble-free hold to 15. A teenage-like shrug of the shoulder from Murray as he nets a forehand on what ends up being the final point.